It's been a great season in our charity pro football underdog game -- lots of action, lots of drama, and one of the biggest 'dogs of the year came through in the last game. Our final standings turned out as shown to the right.

Nine-and-a-half-point 'dogs came through in three of the last five weeks, making quite a difference in the standings. Some players picked up 9 points in Week 1 as well. Our winner, DB Cooper, jumped off to a quick start in that first week, and although he trailed for a short while thereafter, he assumed the top of the board in Week 6 and stayed in front the rest of the way.

And now it is time for our top five to let us know where they'd like their prizes to go. The recipient must be a charity recognized by the IRS under section 501(c)(3) of the tax code. The prizes out of the entry pool are:

First prize: $475 to player's favorite charity
Second prize: $150 to player's favorite charity
Third prize: $100 to player's favorite charity
Fourth prize: $70 to player's favorite charity
Fifth prize: $45 to player's favorite charity

We also have a generous sponsor who has added $500 to the pot, but on the condition that her match go only to charities whose primary function is to provide "food, school, or medicine." If the top five designate such charities as their beneficiaries, the prizes they'll receive are:

First prize: $760 to charity
Second prize: $240 to charity
Third prize: $160 to charity
Fourth prize: $110 to charity
Fifth prize: $70 to charity

If a winner decides to go with a charity that doesn't qualify for the match -- no problem, we'll just reshuffle the matching funds among those that do qualify. But the first set of prizes just listed are guaranteed so long as the 501(c)(3) criterion is met. If there's any question about whether a charity can get the match, we'll gladly resolve it before the player has to make their final designation.

Winners, just drop us a line at the usual spot and let us know what you're thinking about your prizes. Congratulations to the winners and their favorite charities, and our thanks to everybody who played. It's a seductive little game. Thanks especially to Paul, who invented it.